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The Dock - 2 criteria for things that go in the dock: Apps that i want to drag items to to open, or apps that I need to know are running. Frequently opened apps if it suits you. - Put it where you want - left or right theoretically gives you more space, but it can get very confusing if you are using multiple monitors or switch set-ups where one is on the left or the other is on the right.

DesktopDecorate if you want but I prefer to keep the default desktop for the system software I’m running. That gives you a visual cue for what OS is on the particular Mac you’re working on if you have more than one. I usually have too many windows open anyway, but you can always create a graphic with some useful information. I’ve never found that particularly useful, but many do.

Finder Window Customization - Status Bar - turn it on using VIEW-STATUS BAR to know how much storage is on your Mac at all times; also how many files in the folder. - Path Bar - turn it on using VIEW-PATH BAR - not only can you see the path to a particular file, but you can open those windows that are in the path list so you are free to move up and down the file path with just a click. - Tab Bar - turn it on using VIEW-TAB BAR. I use and love tabs in my browsers, and learning to use them in the Finder makes moving between frequently used windows a breeze. - Have a whole lot of windows open in the Finder and want to consolidate them? Use WINDOW-MERGE ALL WINDOWS to create a single Finder window with all the previously open windows in tabs on that window. - Customize the Toolbar - Select in VIEW-CUSTOMIZE TOOLBAR. Put apps or folders that you frequently drag items to at your fingertips. Putting a Trash icon makes it quick and simple to delete items with a click rather than a drag. If you don’t use Tags, why is it in every single Finder window you open? Make the Toolbar work for you.

Touch Bar CustomizationIf you have a Touch Bar Macbook Pro, don't overlook this option to put commands of your choice in the Touch Bar. Select it in VIEW-CUSTOMIZE-TOUCH-BAR.

Sidebar Customization - Some programs and services like Dropbox and iCloud Drive automatically load items into your Sidebar, and that’s fine, because you often need frequent access to those locations on your drive. But if not, you can get rid of them by right-clicking and removing them. - Add frequently-accessed folders here and folders that you drag things to in addition to the OS-standard folders like Downloads and Documents. Adding is simple: Just drag a folder into the Sidebar and move it up and down a little until a horizontal line appears, indicating where it will be placed, and then release the click. and it is there!

Keyboard Shortcuts - Hopefully you are already using cut, copy, paste, screenshots and most of the common ones built in. You can spend days learning all the keyboard shortcuts that are built into the Mac OS, and even more learning those in your favorite applications. But if there is one that you need and it doesn’t exist, you can make it yourself. Open SYSTEM PREFERENCES and go to KEYBOARD, then either APP SHORTCUTS or FUNCTION KEYS will let you assign a new shortcut. The macOS will let you know if your creation conflicts with something already assigned by the system.Shortcuts will let you assign a keyboard shortcut to any app, and will warn you if there is a conflict with an existing shortcut. - In SYSTEM PREFERENCES and then TEXT, you can sample text expansion by assigning your own abbreviations and what they expand to. See if text expansion is for you, then step up to TextExpander if and when you need more power and easier organization.

Dictation - Also in KEYBOARD PREFERENCES is Dictation. Note that if you want to dictate offline, be sure to turn on Enhanced Dictation. And if you want your Mac to be able to be voice controlled in some areas, that’s in the ACCESSIBILITY panel in SYSTEM PREFERENCES.

Menu Bar Apps- It is absolutely easy to put too much up in that menu bar, to the point you can’t remember what they all are. So many applications believe that they are so important that they must have space in your Menu Bar, and install themselves with the menu bar option turned on. Turn off as many as you can, and keep the ones that are important to you. - If you just can’t stand not to have a huge number of menu bar apps, then get the third party utility Bartender, that gives you a second row of menu bar apps. This is also great for having those menu bar apps readily available, but not cluttering up your main working environment. For example, I keep Bluetooth and Duet available but hidden in Bartender.

Open/Save Dialog Boxes - One feature that everyone has to use is the Open and Save dialog boxes. The customization you do in your Sidebar carries over to the Open and Save dialog boxes, to help quickly access where you want to put and get your documents, but a different and essential third party utility is Default Folder from St. Clair Software. You can set favorites and access all sorts of functions on the right side of the dialog box, but the one that I use the most is the Recently Used Files and Folders.

Print Dialog Box - Don’t overlook the PDF option in every print dialog box. By pulling it down, you can do a wide variety of things with the PDF of your document, rather than just saving it. You can email it directly from here or send it to other programs, but my personal favorite is the "Save to Web Receipts" option where it creates the PDF and names it with the title of the page it comes from, and places it automatically in the Web Receipts folder in your Documents folder.

Trackpad - Learn the built-in Trackpad swipes, pinches and zooms because there are some terrifically usable ways to manipulate files and images straight from the trackpad itself. You can find them in the System Preferences in the Trackpad panel. - Once you get used to two and three finger gestures, get the third party app Better Touch Tool by Andreas Hegenberg and you can basically program gestures and taps with multiple fingers. I tend to use it with Final Cut, but am experimenting constantly with functions that I would like to do without taking my hands off the Trackpad.

Displays - In System Preferences, the Displays panel will let you choose various options, especially if you have a MacBook: try out the various resolutions that make the text larger, or that give you more screen real estate. I usually use the MORE SPACE setting because I like to have as much as possible, but not always.

Custom Icons - Don’t forget custom icons, especially if you prefer the icon view of your windows. Because they don’t show up as custom in the Side Bar, nor are they in color, they aren't as useful as they used to be.

QuickLook - You probably know about QuickLook - the ability to highlight a file, tap the spacebar, and get a preview of the file's contents. But did you know or remember that you can extend QuickLook with third party plug-ins? QuickLookPlugins.com has an extensive collection. Some work less than ideally, but it is worth checking out if you have a file format that isn’t natively supported.

Launch Bar - Launch Bar is my choice for a launcher utility, but it has another function that is invaluable: the built-in Clipboard history, so that with COMMAND-SPACE-K, I get access to up to the last fifty items that were on the Clipboard. There are plenty of clipboard utilities out there, but none that are so seamless, take up no screen real estate, and that are so easily accessed.

Moving, Resizing and Laying Out Finder Windows - Move two windows close together and they snap together. This works side-by-side or top-and-bottom. - There are so many great window layout utilities that you can get lost. My favorite is Moom by Many Tricks software. Not only do you get pre-defined window positions with a click, but also a grid where you can drag out the size window you want. - You can also click and hold on a window's green icon to put the window in split-screen mode.

Customizing Apple's Productivity Apps - Don't overlook the fact that you can customize the tool bars in Keynote, Numbers and Pages to access the tools you really use, or remove the ones you don't. - Bonus tip: The tabs and MERGE ALL WINDOWS features works in these apps as well!

Safari- Tabs - The Sidebar contains options for your bookmarks, and this is where it is easiest to arrange and edit them, place them in order, and organize them in folders. It also is where you can use Reader mode to read pages you have save for later reading. Finally, it can show your social media feeds. - Folders in the Favorites Bar: by placing several bookmarks in a folder, and then clicking on the folder when it is in the Favorites Bar, you can opt to open all of the links in that folder into different tabs at one time.

Want More? - Look in the preferences of every single app you use - Look at all the panels in System Preferences. There are all kinds of options you may have known about and forgotten, or that you never knew about to start with.

Other World Computing (OWC) has a new way to expand and adapt the ports on your new Macs! The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock brings a total of 13 ports to the party, all connected through one Thunderbolt port on your MacBook Pro or new iMac. Chuck tells you what you need to know.

The PortsWith any dock, the first thing that draws your attention is the number and type of ports. That is what the dock’s purpose in life is, to connect things to your Mac, and more is always better.

The OWC Thunderbolt dock comes with four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports on the back of the device, and one high-power USB.3.1 Gen 1 on the front, suitable for connecting and charging an iPhone or iPad, for a total of 5. Also on the front is an SD card slot, and an analog audio in/out jack for connecting external speakers or a microphone or any other analog audio device.

Next to the USB ports on the back is a S/PDIF pro-grad e digital audio output, and a FireWire 800 port that helps with some of your legacy equipment. I tested the FireWire 800 port with a FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 adapter and two different FireWire 400 hard drives with no problems. That means that any of your legacy FireWire devices should function without issue.

A Gigabit Ethernet port gets you on your local network if wireless isn’t available, or if you prefer the security and high performance of a wired network connection.

Next up are dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, one that makes the connection to your Mac, and another for another Thunderbolt device.

A Mini Display Port adds sophisticated monitor support.

Finally, a power jack makes the whole thing work.

The Design:The Thunderbolt 3 Dock just looks GOOD. The top is a shiny black and sturdy enough to stack another device on top, as long as it isn’t too heavy and also isn’t flat on the surface, to prevent a reasonable amount of heat dissipation.

The front ports are exactly what you want in the front of the dock since you would want to insert SD cards, charge your iPad or plug in a portable external drive or thumb drive, or connect a set of headphones or an external mic.

Perhaps out of necessity, perhaps out of design, the dock has some weight to it, 1.2 pouds…and that’s a good thing. Too many docks, even powered docks, that I’ve used are so light that, but the time you connect multiple cables, at least one of them is curled or coiled to the point it won’t lay flat and pulls the dock off the desk or up off the desk. With the OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock, everything stays right where you put it.

Display Support:There are plenty of display options with the Thunderbolt 3 Dock, including driving two 4K displays or 1 5K display. If you are looking for VGA or DVI support, that can easily be accomplished with the appropriate adapters and dongles, not included.

What Is Included:While it seems like it would be obvious, not all Thunderbolt device manufacturers supply a cable with their devices. OWC does, and that is a nice touch. You will need to decide which side of your laptop you will want to place the dock on since the cable isn’t long enough to reach both sides, but that is a small issue, especially since, with a MacBook Pro, it will probably find a specific spot on your desk. If you plan to use the dock with one of the new iMacs, then having less cable clutter is definitely a good thing.

OWC ItselfIf you are used to, and content with, using no-name docks and third party hardware, then be advised: This is a Thunderbolt dock. When you start using Thunderbolt, you are working with highly powered ports on your Macs, and you are no longer going to want to just plug something in to see what happens, like you often could with USB. OWC has an established reputation for high-quality products, and for standing behind them. I’m very comfortable with the idea of using this dock with my expensive Macs and expensive drives and other hardware because of that reputation. Don’t overlook that as a feature when you are making your buying decision.

The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock retails for $299 and can be ordered from Other World Computing at MacSales.com. If you are looking for fast expansion to your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac, with lots of port options, this is a piece of hardware you want to take a serious look at.

This MacVoices Briefing covers the video rig I used to record interviews at CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

If you’ve been listening to or watching MacVoices for any length of time, you probably know that, over the past few years, I’ve been modifying and refining the gear I use at trade shows like CES and NAB. These are particularly challenging environments for various reasons, especially since I attack them as a one-man production unit.

One of the biggest challenges from a video standpoint is being able to set up a camera far enough away to get a decent shot of the guests, possibly their product or booth, and me as the interviewer. That means there will be space between the subjects and the camera, and in these crowded spaces, inevitably someone is going to try to walk in front of the camera or bump into it.

Then there is the lighting: Some areas of a given exhibition space are bright, others are dark, relatively speaking. And there is always the issue of display screens in the background. Some are static, some have videos playing. Parts of those videos are dark, others are stark white. That means the camera is constantly adjusting to the light level. And let’s not forget the color casts of different lights and the reflections off surrounding booths or walls.

Framing the shot can be challenging since I can’t be in the picture to do the framing, so there is a certain amount of guesswork if I don’t have a monitor to see what the camera sees once I am in position.

From an audio standpoint, there is the issue of the constant din of the show going on around us. Sometimes it is to the point that I’m almost yelling just to try to hear myself, let alone the guest.

Finally, there’s the little matter of transporting the gear on the show floor. It needs to be as light and as minimal as possible, both from the weight and bulk perspectives. Fighting the crowds while loaded down with camera gear isn’t a lot of fun.

So with all that, this year I opted to abandon my GoPro camera because last year at NAB, I lost a number of absolutely terrific interviews due to an audio cable failure. That wasn’t the GoPro’s fault, but what was was the lack of any audio meters to indicate there was a problem. I ended up with some gorgeous silent movies. Great video but not a lick of sound, and therefore completely useless.

I opted to use an iPad Pro 9.7” as my video source for a couple reasons. First, it has a terrific camera that shoots in 4K. Having that much resolution means I can be a little less precise in framing, and can adjust or zoom in post to position the shot. Second, because of its size, even while shooting video, the battery life is sufficient for a full day of this kind of shooting with power to spare.

Next, I picked the iOgrapher as the housing for the iPad, and to allow it to be mounted to a tripod. The iOgrapher is relatively light weight, yet holds the iPad VERY securely. It also has a threaded lens mount that provides the option of using a wide angle lens. iOgrapher makes just such a lens, and that means i could put the camera even closer to the subjects, cutting down on those pesky, inattentive people interrupting the shot.

The iOgrapher’s cold shoe mounts are useful for attaching other gear such as my Kick light. Both brightness and temperature are adjustable, and the battery has a decent life since it is an LED panel. This was the only piece of gear that made the cut from last year’s rig.

For the first time in several years, I gave up my beloved Manfrotto monopod. As convenient as it is for transport and set-up, with an iographer-housed iPad at the top, it isn’t stable enough for shooting in a crowd. A slight bump by a passerby and you look like you are watching an earthquake.

I opted for the Manfrotto MKC3-H01M tripod. In addition to being much more stable, it stands just over 60 inches high, yet collapses down to a very small 18 inches…small enough to fit in even today’s small carry on suitcases. At 2.5 poiunds, it isn’t the lightest tripod going but is acceptable. Best of all, it is an affordable $95 on Amazon.

Especially nice is the pistol grip ball head that adjusts easily. It can be angled up or down depending on the position of the camera, the subject’s height, and any other factors that crop up.

On the audio side, I used the IK Multimedia iRig HD microphone with a Lightning extension cable from Cellularize, and of course, a foam windscreen. This was another big chance, since I’ve been using a Share SM58 even longer than the Manfroto monopod. The mic has a gain adjustment on it, and as you can tell from the interviews, has pretty good off-axis rejection that helped isolate the guest from the rest of the show floor noise. In a couple cases, because the noise at the event was so great and I’m used to the Shure, my part of the audio was a bit overdriven, but I adjusted it once I realized what was happening.

In order to avoid the disaster of not being able to confirm that audio was being recorded, I used the FiLMiC Pro video app. Not only does it include an audio level indicator, but also all sorts of options various resolutions and frame rates, a battery indicator and more.

Overall, this is my new favorite rig to use for Expo interviews and beyond. One small problem cropped it, and that had to do with the iRig HD mic. Because it uses a micro-USB cable to connect into the bottom of the mic, it is had a tendency to come lose since it doesn’t lock into place like an XLR mic does. This happened a couple times, but happily I caught it in time to correct or re-record the interview. I ended up using a piece of tape wrapped around the cord and the bottom of the mic to take the tension off and assure that it stayed plugged in. I’ll be looking at other options for a mic solution only for that reason. The performance of the mic itself was excellent, and if you’re not dragging all this gear around a trade show floor, it is highly recommended.

The only other small issue is that I still have no way to monitor the video once I’m back in front of the camera after framing the shot, but with the 4K resolution, that’s not the issue it used to be. If I figure out something, you’ll be the first to know.

One last thing on the hardware side, and under the heading of full disclosure. I did try this same rig, but substituted an iPhone 6 Plus and the corresponding iOgrapher case. Since the cameras are the same, the results were similar, and excellent, but the battery life just wasn’t suitable for a day of shooting. If you don’t have those kinds of time demands between charges, I can also heartily recommend this set-up.

I also experimented with using a Rode Video mic, shown here on the iPhone version of the iOgrapher. Again, if the conditions were different, this would be a great way to avoid the cabling and mic, and can definitely be made to work, but with the degree of ambient noise on the trade show floor, I prefer the mic, especially for the audio-only version of MacVoices. One small note if you decide to go this direction: you will need a TRS to TRRS adapter cable to make the Rode or any shotgun mic work with the iPad. Just so you know.

So that was my recording rig for CES, and I’m already looking forward to taking it back to NAB in Vegas in April. It certainly cuts down on the gear I’ve had to travel with in the past, is quick to set up, and delivers great audio and video. If you’re in the market, please check out any or all of these components. I think you will be quite satisfied with the results.

MacVoices' CES coverage included sixty-three interviews from the show floor and press events. You can find them all in the MacVoices Archives on the site, but I also wanted to mention a potential issue if you are subscribed to the audio or video podcast feeds:

Depending on how your podcatcher is configured, you may have missed some shows getting automatically downloaded. Why? Let's say your podcatcher checks for new shows every morning before you leave for work, and (this is the important part) it is set to retrieve "the latest episode" or some similar setting. If I released four shows since yesterday morning, you would only get the latest one. The other three would be skipped, and you might never know about them.

Since this is a local setting in your podcatcher, there's nothing I can do about it other than mention it to you. So, if you see episodes on the site or here in the Dispatch but don't recognize them, that is most likely the reason.

The solution is to manually download them, or to watch them online, either on the MacVoices site or on MacVoices on YouTube, where there is a playlist of all the CES shows for 2017.

Looking for a quick way to browse all the picks our MacJury panels have done this holiday season? Then you need to flip through the new MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide - 2016, our new Flipboard magazine that consolidates all of our picks, and the shows themselves, and puts them in an a format that can be browsed easily.

Of course, you will need to watch or listen to the shows to find out why a particular product was picked, what it offers, and what other panel members had to say about it. This Flipboard magazine is designed to help you scan all the choices, especially as shopping time starts to grow short.

As more panels provide their gift choices for this year, their selections will be added, so check back often.

Like MacVoices Magazine, the MacVoices Holiday Gift Guide - 2016 is free on Flipboard, the iOS app that is also free, and is one of the best ways to view content on your iOS device.